Tuesday, July 20, 2004
THE STRICKLETT REUNION.....1967
Thursday August 17th
We ate our last meal in the camper at breakfast time as we’ve been having our meals with the family in grandma’s house. There have been several arrivals during the time we have been here, congregating for the yearly Stricklett reunion. It has always been held in mid-August because of aunt Mary’s birthday on the 18th and grandma’s birthday on the 20th. Three of grandma’s off-spring have stayed in Blair but three of the girls married and left to live in Missouri, Virginia and Hastings, NE., so it provides a timely way for all to be together.
The women folk were busy in the kitchen all day preparing food to take to the park. When there was a lull in the action, mom, aunt Inabelle, aunt Sally and I went down town to Klopp’s Jewelry Store to visit a good friend of aunt Inabelle’s. Of course we looked around and did a little shopping. I selected a pretty footed dish and candy jar to commemorate Nebraska’s Centennial Year….1967. Being born and raised in Nebraska it was meaningful to me. (Note: I passed them both on to George Jr. who has them on a table in his living room now.
It came time for all of us to meet at the park and what a group we were. Uncle Bud, aunt Pearl and their family; Mary Beth and husband Gary with their two children and Patricia and Wayne who were newlyweds. (Ronnie and Susan were unable to come.) Next were uncle Buster and wife, Phyllis, with their children; Roger Phillip, Julie and Joy. Aunt Sally and uncle Rod surprised us all by coming at the last minute with their five children; Coral Jean, Janet, Bruce, Joyce and Marsha. Then came aunt Inabelle and uncle Tom with Tommy and Mary; mom and dad with me, George and our three; George Jr., Becky and John….plus uncle Alfred (an Andersen.) We were 33-altogether.
Mrs. Rhodes, my old Sunday School teacher, and her son, came to the park to take group pictures (which I still have and are very precious now because most of our elders have passed on).
George was commandeered to be the hamburger chef so he was busy with his important job…..when he called “supper” everyone joined hands in a circle around the tables and uncle Bud asked the blessing. What a wonderful sight to look around the circle and see all the little guys holding hands with the big ones, young ones with old ones…….and all of us gathered together except four of the grand-children (Ronnie and family, Susan and family, Coral Jean’s family and Louis and Gail.)
We ate our meal which was bounty beyond measure….we laughed and cried….caught up with each other’s lives and aspirations….mourned the ones who were missing because of death and celebrated the new little ones just budding out on our family tree. It was a time of extreme pleasure to belong….to be loved and to love……
Later in the evening the younger cousins went bowling while mom, aunt Sally and I walked over with aunt Pearl to see their new home. It was by the edge of the park and a lovely brick ranch-style. Uncle Bud had the yard groomed to perfection and his roses were fully in bloom. He had a love of flowers and a green thumb…..the interior of the home was every bit as beautiful.
After a full day we re-grouped on “the hill” and spent our last night sleeping in our camper. After George and the children were sleeping soundly I lay awake thinking of all the summer days I had spent at grandma’s house…..the leisurely time when I played with dogs and cats, made mud pies by the pump and dreamed of growing up and having my own home and family.
The younger cousins now capture “the hill” in their adventures and show or tell their discoveries. They think it is the ‘first find’ but in my heart I know my brother and I found all of their treasures years ago……when life was simpler and days were longer……there is something sad about letting your claim go to the next generation but it is a rite of passage that must come. I knew that time had come………….
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
We ate our last meal in the camper at breakfast time as we’ve been having our meals with the family in grandma’s house. There have been several arrivals during the time we have been here, congregating for the yearly Stricklett reunion. It has always been held in mid-August because of aunt Mary’s birthday on the 18th and grandma’s birthday on the 20th. Three of grandma’s off-spring have stayed in Blair but three of the girls married and left to live in Missouri, Virginia and Hastings, NE., so it provides a timely way for all to be together.
The women folk were busy in the kitchen all day preparing food to take to the park. When there was a lull in the action, mom, aunt Inabelle, aunt Sally and I went down town to Klopp’s Jewelry Store to visit a good friend of aunt Inabelle’s. Of course we looked around and did a little shopping. I selected a pretty footed dish and candy jar to commemorate Nebraska’s Centennial Year….1967. Being born and raised in Nebraska it was meaningful to me. (Note: I passed them both on to George Jr. who has them on a table in his living room now.
It came time for all of us to meet at the park and what a group we were. Uncle Bud, aunt Pearl and their family; Mary Beth and husband Gary with their two children and Patricia and Wayne who were newlyweds. (Ronnie and Susan were unable to come.) Next were uncle Buster and wife, Phyllis, with their children; Roger Phillip, Julie and Joy. Aunt Sally and uncle Rod surprised us all by coming at the last minute with their five children; Coral Jean, Janet, Bruce, Joyce and Marsha. Then came aunt Inabelle and uncle Tom with Tommy and Mary; mom and dad with me, George and our three; George Jr., Becky and John….plus uncle Alfred (an Andersen.) We were 33-altogether.
Mrs. Rhodes, my old Sunday School teacher, and her son, came to the park to take group pictures (which I still have and are very precious now because most of our elders have passed on).
George was commandeered to be the hamburger chef so he was busy with his important job…..when he called “supper” everyone joined hands in a circle around the tables and uncle Bud asked the blessing. What a wonderful sight to look around the circle and see all the little guys holding hands with the big ones, young ones with old ones…….and all of us gathered together except four of the grand-children (Ronnie and family, Susan and family, Coral Jean’s family and Louis and Gail.)
We ate our meal which was bounty beyond measure….we laughed and cried….caught up with each other’s lives and aspirations….mourned the ones who were missing because of death and celebrated the new little ones just budding out on our family tree. It was a time of extreme pleasure to belong….to be loved and to love……
Later in the evening the younger cousins went bowling while mom, aunt Sally and I walked over with aunt Pearl to see their new home. It was by the edge of the park and a lovely brick ranch-style. Uncle Bud had the yard groomed to perfection and his roses were fully in bloom. He had a love of flowers and a green thumb…..the interior of the home was every bit as beautiful.
After a full day we re-grouped on “the hill” and spent our last night sleeping in our camper. After George and the children were sleeping soundly I lay awake thinking of all the summer days I had spent at grandma’s house…..the leisurely time when I played with dogs and cats, made mud pies by the pump and dreamed of growing up and having my own home and family.
The younger cousins now capture “the hill” in their adventures and show or tell their discoveries. They think it is the ‘first find’ but in my heart I know my brother and I found all of their treasures years ago……when life was simpler and days were longer……there is something sad about letting your claim go to the next generation but it is a rite of passage that must come. I knew that time had come………….
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
